Before You Travel | Planning your South African Safari and Tour.
Before you Travel
Best Time to Travel
Let us consider a few options: If one is really into our magic beaches and good beach weather, our coastline offers a variety of options. The east coast has a sub-tropical climate and is mild to warm year round with short thundershowers. However, it may get a little humid for some around January - February. But then just pack your bags and travel to Cape Town for hot, but drier weather during this time. Winters there, on the other hand, are mild to cool with longer wet spells as a result of its winter rainfall climate, but glorious sunny days separate the rainy ones.
Game viewing is at its best during winter months and into our early summer, typically from June through November, but some record-breaking sightings have been recorded during summer months with sightings of all of the Big Five in one morning!
From the above information and that on the WEATHER page, you will find very few factors keeping you from visiting South Africa any time of the year.
So the only factor you have to consider is when you can break away from your work / family / home to embark on your wildest dream come true!
An Overview of South African Weather
Here are the weather conditions in some of the most popular and well-known areas:
Medical Information
South Africa boasts excellent medical facilities that can be favourably compared with those in developed countries. Hospitals in the cities have some of the latest medical equipment and the staff is world class. Ground and air casualty evacuation is also comprehensive and well organised.
However, all medical treatment must be paid for, and therefore we recommend that you invest in medical insurance.
HEALTH HAZARDS
Here we highlight the most hazardous disease that occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim is not to frighten you, but to protect you from any already unlikely hazard. We believe an enlightened guest is a safe one. If you follow the few simple do's and don’ts hereunder, you will be able to have the time of your life without being worried. Sometimes there occur temporary health risks in the region. Click here to view them and to get more information on such risks.
Medical Insurance
A few points to consider are:
- What part of a medical emergency do they pay for and when?
- Do they have ties with a medical insurance concern in South Africa or do you carry a card / document that is recognised by the South African medical fraternity?
- What are the exclusions and the reasons for it?
Security
Crime, like anywhere else in the world, can be a problem, but you really need not do much more than take all the usual sensible precautions. Know where you're going before you set off, particularly at night, watch your possessions, don't walk alone in dodgy areas, and lock your doors at night. Much like anywhere else. And, like anywhere else in the world, there are some areas of major cities that are dodgier than others. It is easy to avoid these and still have a good time. Check with the locals who will quickly point those areas out to you.
When walking through areas that are considered risky, avoid wearing visible jewelery or carrying cameras and bags over your shoulder. Keep cell phones (mobile phones) and wallets tucked away where no one can see them. Check beforehand that the areas you plan to visit are safe by asking hotel management or police. It is not advisable to use local commuter and metro trains as attacks on foreigners have occurred. However, when the need arises to use them, do not openly display expensive jewelery, camera equipment or other valuables.
Taking Children Along
SAFETY
This is always a difficult question to answer as parents' aspirations and concerns are, rightfully, very biased. I always say: Ask the millions of kids running around and growing up in Africa.
Obviously there are certain very valid dangers involved when one travels to any destination and if you have traveled with your kids before, you will probably have most- to all the answers... and a few tips!!
Regarding safety in our vehicles, they are fitted with infant and toddler seats on request and our guides are trained to deal with and manage the tour accordingly. They will give the mother information on an ongoing basis regarding time spent in the vehicle between stops, feeding places, what to do at scenic stops, etc. The guide will also arrange a meeting with the parents before departure and acquire information on feeding times, etc. Safety outside the vehicle is pretty much the same as one would deal with safety anywhere in the world. The guide's input is extremely valuable and the parents should utilise the information and ask questions at any time during the tour.
Click here for a list of goodies you can hire when in South Africa so you do not have to bring it along with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Do I need immunisation and do I take any other medical precautions?
- A: No inoculations are required except that people arriving here from a Yellow Fever Zone must have a valid international yellow fever inoculation certificate. It is strongly advised that you take anti-malaria precautions if you are entering a malaria zone. Check with us when you enquire about your trip. Also click here for more information.
2.
- Q: What kind of insurance should I take?
- A: We strongly recommend that you take a cancellation and personal medical insurance that has a working relationship with South African medical insurances. Check with us for details when you book your trip and click here for more information on medical insurance.
